NameCensus.

UK surname

Drylie

A Scottish surname likely derived from a placename meaning "dry meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Drylie surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Larbert, Northfleet and Inveresk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dunfermline Abbeyview South, Alva and Dunfermline Milesmark and Wellwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drylie is 137 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.3%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2008

137 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Drylie had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Drylie surname distribution map

The map shows where the Drylie surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Drylie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drylie over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 43 #25,518
1861 historical 64 #25,747
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 86 #25,951
1901 historical 115 #21,050
1997 modern 124 #23,669
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 127 #24,125
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 125 #24,265
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 132 #23,834
2007 modern 134 #23,931
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 124 #26,367
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

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Where Drylies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Larbert, Northfleet, Inveresk, Beath and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dunfermline Abbeyview South, Alva, Dunfermline Milesmark and Wellwood, Dunfermline Bellyeoman and Townhill and Lochore and Crosshill. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Larbert Stirling
2 Northfleet Kent
3 Inveresk Edinburgh
4 Beath Fife
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dunfermline Abbeyview South Fife
2 Alva Clackmannanshire
3 Dunfermline Milesmark and Wellwood Fife
4 Dunfermline Bellyeoman and Townhill Fife
5 Lochore and Crosshill Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drylie

These lists show first names that appear often with the Drylie surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drylie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Drylie, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Drylie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Drylie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Drylie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Drylie is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Drylie falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Drylie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Drylie, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Drylie

The surname DRYLIE is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "dryliċ," which means "dry" or "arid." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone who lived in a dry or arid area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name DRYLIE can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage rolls to King Edward I of England. The entry mentions a "William Drylie" from the county of Berwickshire, located in the Scottish Borders.

In the 14th century, the name DRYLIE appeared in various Scottish charters and land records, indicating that the family had established landholdings during this time. For example, a "John Drylie" was mentioned as a landowner in the Regality of Dalkeith in 1375.

Over the centuries, the name DRYLIE has been recorded with various spellings, including Drylye, Dryly, and Drilich. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and the evolution of spelling conventions.

One notable figure with the surname DRYLIE was Sir James Drylie (1510-1578), a Scottish nobleman and landowner who served as a member of the Privy Council of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. Another prominent individual was Robert Drylie (1640-1702), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of St. Leonard's College at the University of St. Andrews.

Other historically significant individuals with the surname DRYLIE include:

1. Margaret Drylie (1565-1632), a Scottish noblewoman known for her philanthropic work and support of education. 2. William Drylie (1675-1743), a Scottish merchant and entrepreneur who established a successful trading company in the Netherlands. 3. Alexander Drylie (1720-1795), a Scottish architect and builder who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh during the 18th century. 4. Elizabeth Drylie (1785-1862), a Scottish writer and poet who published several collections of poetry and essays. 5. John Drylie (1825-1898), a Scottish politician and lawyer who served as a member of the UK Parliament for the constituency of Ayrshire.

While the surname DRYLIE is not among the most common Scottish surnames, its historical roots and notable bearers reflect its enduring presence in Scottish culture and history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Drylie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Drylie surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Fife leads with 41 Drylies recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.27x.

County Total Index
Fife 41 97.27x
Stirlingshire 16 60.93x
Midlothian 10 10.49x
Ayrshire 6 11.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 33 Drylies recorded in 1881 and an index of 509.26x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 33 509.26x
Larbert 16 1019.11x
Beath 8 601.50x
Inveresk 7 271.32x
Muirkirk 6 480.00x
Liberton 3 204.08x

FAQ

Drylie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Drylie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Drylie surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Drylie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Drylie a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Drylie surname mean?

A Scottish surname likely derived from a placename meaning "dry meadow".

What does the Drylie map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Drylie bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.